WingedEagle

I just got through Starrcade '87 on the 4H set and it really is incredible how that series rate all time. They've got 5-6 matches all at the level of a MOTYC and are all pretty varied as well.

Any speculation as to what the teases were about during the Smackdown 8 man tag?

Without question. But given the expectation of Cena/Elias and Roman/Bray this is a hell of a lot better.

If accurate that is a huge, huge improvement. I've got no use for Wyatt beyond an opening act but this looks like Rock/Cena when compared with Cena/Elias or Bray in a title match. So they find a compelling match for Roman but again its one where hell be booed even if happened on the night he returned from cancer. At least its something to get excited about.

Everyone who's no less than a casual fan of the promotion should watch the last two matches of today's Nakanishi retirement show. The semifinal was highlighted by the Shingo/Ishii and Shingo/Ospreay segments while also teasing Naito/Ospreay. Its about as great as a match can be where the talent involved doesn't go all out and was essentially just below the four star mark in my book. It left you wanting more in this setting and from multiple singles matches. There's not much more you can ask for from this kind of talent on a minor show. The main event was also fantastic. Nagata and Kojima are still capable wrestlers but Tenzan and Nakanishi are as shot as Lincoln. Despite that this was an awesome affair because the current gen stars went out of their way to heel and sell for the dads until the stretch run where the all star team took out Nakanishi 4 on 1. Its really incredible. You've got these older vets who to varying levels have at best been phased out over the last couple years and at worst been rendered opening card sympathy acts. Despite that, they're positioned here as a top act, even if just for 20 minutes. Its so easy given what they've accomplished throughout their careers. You could easily envision this in WWE with acts like the Hardys, Angle, or countless others in 2020. But its also as likely there as the Jetsons. It wouldn't be so sad if it weren't so simple. But it'll never happen, not even for a night. Nakanishi's retirement ceremony afterwards was also great and along with Tiger Hattori's sandwiching the Ishii/Shingo NEVER title match made for a terrific week despite no major events.

Pardon the lukewarm takes as I'm a bit behind, but after a phenomenal intro last week and great video packages building him up I thought tonight's match and post-match established Cobb as just another heel rather than any kind of special act.

Baker has quickly become one of my favorite promos in the company along with Cody.

McIntyre really shouldn't speak. He doesn't come across as anything resembling a top of the card act.

Or should Giannis have spoken up at some point and made it clear he needed to get Kemba out of there? Lowry absolutely had to be on the floor. Dude was taking bumps to earn charges in the ASG!

Can't wait for the DIY reunion in 2025 with glowsticks and a feud with Hunter and Shawn. Too much even for this NXT fanboy.

Are they actually redoing the Gargano/Cole finish from Takeover NY?

Yeah it looked absolutely brutal live, but on replay it didn't look nearly as dangerous.

Yes she was.

We sure about that?

Charlotte didn't even try to get a hold of Ripley on that Natural Selection. Poor form even.

Definitely flat.

Definitely haven't ruled this one out given Charlotte's NXT TV appearance.

I've got no doubt Ripley is retaining, but definitely think the finish is in question. I originally expected Charlotte showing up for the finish, but that seems less likely now given Nox/Kai.

Is it?

That wasn't bad. It was good. But it sure wasn't great and was definitely too long.

I would've agreed had I seen this post in real time, but Gargano/Balor seems very underwhelming thus far. Its early but certainly looks like Balor might be the guy to bring down Gargano's Takeover rep.

Even with a cold finish due to Gonzalez showing up as an unknown, I absolutely loved that match. It felt urgent and violent throughout with some really organic spots and never really dragged. This show is absolutely over-delivering through 2 matches.

Love the hot start. Really well put together. Hopefully they don't fall into the trope of relying on weapons after that.

Lee/Dijakovic was out of this world through the Spirit Bomb near fall. I thought their prior encounters here and in other promotions always delivered even if they weren't great. This was GREAT. It waned a bit after that big spot but had a good finish while still protecting Dijakovic. Loved it! ****1/4 in my book.

Loving the updates to this thread. Really fun to see fresh takes on all of these matches, a few of which I haven't yet seen due to still not finishing all of the yearbooks.